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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



August, 1905 



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A Crude Bark Lean- To Shelter 



along the bottom, so that they will rest squarely on the 

 foundation. Notches should be cut in each log about a foot 

 from each end. 

 Then a pair of logs 

 should be rolled 

 across them for the 

 beginning of the 

 side walls. The side 

 logs should be rolled 

 to such a position 

 that another half 

 turn would drop 

 them into the 

 notches in the logs 

 below, but before 

 giving them this 

 final half turn they 

 should be notched 

 on the upper side, so 

 that when they drop 

 into position these 

 notches will fit over 

 the notches of the 



lower logs. After these side logs are in place they are 

 notched at the ends to receive the next pair of front and back 

 logs, and so the work progresses until the walls are car- 

 ried up to their full height. The notches are all cut to a 

 depth of about one-quarter of the diameter of the log, 

 and as the logs are notched on both the upper and the 

 lower sides, it will be evident that there will be no gaps 

 between the logs on the side, except such as are due to 

 irregularity of shape. When building up the walls, it 

 will be found best in practice to lay the logs with their 

 butt ends alternately at opposite corners of the building. 

 It will be very difficult to find logs of a uniform diameter 

 throughout, and by thus alternating the positions of the 

 large ends the walls will rise evenly all around. Some 

 cabins are built with the logs flattened at the ends, but 

 they are not quite as strong as when the logs are notched, 

 because the only thing that prevents the walls from being 

 pushed outward is the friction due to the weight of the 

 timber. There are, besides these, many other ways of 

 joining the logs at the corners, but most of them are 

 rather difficult for an inexperienced man to practise. 



The method of putting in a doorway or window is apt 

 to trouble the uninitiated. When the walls have been 

 carried up to the height of the desired opening a piece 

 corresponding in length with the width of the opening is 



A Useful Device in Roof Construction, Showing How the Logs have been Hollowed Out 

 and Laid in the Manner of a Tile Roof 



may now be constructed of 

 tened together. For a hinge 



sawed out of the top log. This leaves a space large 

 enough for inserting a saw so that the remaining logs 

 can be cut when desired. The sawed log may be tem- 

 porarily stayed by a cleat while the walls are being built 

 on up to their full height. When the top of the wall 

 is reached the next two logs are notched in at a short 

 distance back from the edge of the wall. These are con- 

 nected by cross logs as usual. And then the next pair are 

 laid still further in from the edge, and so on until the 

 final central log is placed in position and serves as the 

 ridge of the roof. Light poles may be laid across these 

 roof beams to serve as rafters. The rafters may be held 

 in place by a light log laid across them at their lower 

 ends, as shown in one of the illustrations. The rafters 

 are covered with pieces of bark, which are made to over- 

 lap each other, like shingles. In one of the cabins illus- 

 trated a rather novel tile effect is produced by using for 

 the rafters logs split in two with the central core removed. 

 These trough-shaped logs are laid in place in a regular 

 tile fashion, so that rain will be shed from the round of 

 one into the troughs of the two at each side. At the ridge 

 the joints are covered by an inverted trough-shaped log. 

 For further protection the logs are covered with bark. When 

 the roof has been laid the openings for the doors and win- 

 dows may be sawed 

 out after first nail- 

 ing a strip of wood 

 to the logs along 

 each side of the pro- 

 posed openings t o 

 bind them in place 

 and prevent them 

 from buckling out 

 of line. These 

 strips, however, are 

 only temporary. A 

 permanent binding 

 is provided by nail- 

 i n g jambs against 

 the sawed ends of 

 the logs, and the 

 frame of the door 

 is then completed by 

 adding a lintel and 

 sill. A rough door 

 wood slabs or boards bat- 

 two pins may be used nailed 



Some Bring their Shelter with them in the Form of a Sleeping Bag 



